Shades of Grey
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Part One.

Part Six: One Way or Another

Meredith paused, trying ot think of an answer to Mark's question. Was she still ready to move on and to forget about Derek?

Last night it had seemed like a good idea and this morning she had been willing to give it a try, but that was before she knew he was free. She could have her McDreamy back. Yet, what she had told Mark was true, it was kind of humiliating.

"I don't know." She answered finally. "I don't want to take Derek back, right away. I know that. I'm not just going to take him back with open arms, I can't."

"Good for you." Mark said with a grin. "That's a good step."

"Thanks." Meredith said softly. She shook her head. "We're here." She said after a minute. "They want us, but we're here. Not with them. That's a step, right?"

"It is." Mark told her. "We're taking steps."

Meredith smiled. "Good for us." And it was, she didn't know what she was going to do about Derek, but at least she wasn't totally pathetic.


Addison sat in her hotel room, wondering if life got anymore pathetic.

You fly across the country to save your marriage and just when you think you're getting somewhere your husband leaves you for a perky intern. So you try and save your pride and call the guy who came across the country to be with you and you get blown off.

Yes, life definitely sucked. Addison knew she kind of deserved--she had told Mark that she was staying with her husband and she hadn't met him when he'd asked, so why was she surprised that he wasn't delighted to hear from her after Derek had left her? No one liked to be second choice.

"Why am I doing this?" Addison asked herself out loud. "Why am I sitting in my hotel room, sulking? I should be doing something."

She stood up and grabbed her purse. So she was on her own, well she'd have to get used to it and she'd start by going and getting dinner. She wasn't going to sit around and mope. After all, she doubted either Derek or Mark was.


Mark smiled at the woman across from him. He could see why Derek had fallen for her. Meredith Grey was beautiful, charming, smart and funny, as well as absolutely dynamite in bed.

Her sweet vulnerability was so different than Addison's cool front and Mark could see that being pat of the appeal.

"So is there any chance I'm getting lucky tonight?" Mark teased. He hadn't asked Meredith out to dinner just to get her into bed, but he wouldn't turn down the opportunity either.

He had come to Seattle to woo back Addison, but he found himself being fascinated by the woman in front of him.

Meredith smiled coyly. "Maybe..." She replied. "Let's just see how dinner goes."

"Sounds good to me." Mark said with a smile. "I'll just have to be at my most charming and irresistible."

Meredith giggled and then froze.

Mark followed her gaze, wondering what could cause her reaction to change so quickly and then took in a deep breath, for standing not five feet away, staring at them with a mix of shock, hurt and betrayal, was Addison!